Nigerians have taken to twitter to berate the bill seeking to regulate social media, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, representing Niger East Senatorial District.
The bill, which has passed second reading on the floor of the senate has generated mixed reactions on social media as many Nigerians are calling to retract it.
It could be recalled that ABACITYBLOG reported that the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan had refereed the Bill to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, however, The Committee is to report within four (4) weeks.
Below is the excerpt of the what the bill reads…
A Bill for an Act to make provisions for the Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019 (SB. 132) is read the Second Time.
This bill like we have said before seeks to prevent the transmission of false statements/declaration of facts in Nigeria and to enable measures to be taken to counter the effects of such transmission.
To also suppress the financing, promotion and other support of online locations that repeatedly transmit false statements/declaration of facts in Nigeria.
It seeks to enable measures to be taken to detect, control and safeguard against coordinated inauthentic behavior and other misuses of online accounts and bots.
To enable measures to be taken to enhance disclosure of information concerning paid content directed towards a political end and sanction offenders, I Believe In Freedom Of Expression, this bill doesn’t seek to suppress free speech. – Sen. Sani Musa
Meanwhile, Nigerians on twitter have alleged that Senator Musa copied the bill from the Singapore anti-social media law.
Below is what a twitter user shared on the comment section of Senator Musa’s tweet.
Copy and paste senator. pic.twitter.com/DUt6wNzWfS
— Rugged MD (@tempthrills) November 22, 2019
Here is another video of Senator Sani, reading out reasons behind the bill…
It seeks to enable measures to be taken to detect, control and safeguard against coordinated inauthentic behavior and other misuses of online accounts and bots. pic.twitter.com/a9eWLd0vBV
— Senator Moh’d Sani Musa (@MohdSaniMusa) November 20, 2019
